You don’t need to book a reservation at your favorite red sauce joint to have a taste of Nonna’s cooking. Instead, replicate some old-school Italian-American dishes in your own kitchen with these recipes. With the aroma of basil, lemon, and rich tomato wafting through the air, these are the dishes that will transport you right to Grandma’s kitchen. They’re the type of dishes that are perfect for serving to your loved ones on a weekend night.
Here you’ll find some basic appetizers like classic Caesar salad and a cozy soup to kick off your meal before getting into main courses. There are plenty of iconic pasta dishes as well as hearty, protein-packed entrées like chicken parm (two ways) and chicken marsala, super saucy meatballs, and garlicky shrimp scampi.
If you’re craving classic, no-fuss Italian-American recipes that remind you of Nonna’s house, you’ve come to the right place.
Caesar Salad
Skip the store-bought bottled stuff and make your own Caesar dressing from scratch. It features a robust, savory flavor from a combination of anchovy fillets, garlic, and Dijon, balanced by lemony brightness. Toss it with crunchy romaine lettuce for a salad that rivals the one from your favorite Italian-American restaurant.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Pasta With Vodka Sauce
The secret to the rich flavor and vibrant hue of this Italian-American classic? An entire can of tomato paste, which is coupled with heavy cream to create the luxurious pasta sauce that everyone lusts after.
Get the Pasta With Vodka Sauce recipe.
Classic Spaghetti Bolognese
What’s not to love about this hearty meat sauce? There are a lot of variations out there, but this one keeps things simple with less than 10 ingredients. It’s an all-beef version that’s flavorful and satisfying.
Get the Classic Spaghetti Bolognese recipe.
Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko
Is it really a true Italian-American feast if you’re not kicking things off with baked clams covered in herby breadcrumbs? Instead of stuffing individual clams, you’ll just sprinkle the baked clams with golden lemon panko once they come out of the oven.
Pasta e Fagioli
Nothing hits the spot on a chilly night quite like this hearty soup, studded with tender pasta, white beans, and veggies. It’s a one-pot wonder that comes together in just about 30 minutes.
Get the Pasta e Fagioli recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parm is about as classic as it gets, but making it from scratch is definitely a process. That’s where this sheet pan version comes in. You can bake crispy and juicy chicken cutlets for a crowd—8 cutlets at once!
Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Shrimp Scampi with Linguine
The hallmark of perfect shrimp scampi is a buttery, lemony sauce that balances the heat from red pepper flakes with fresh parsley. This recipe checks all the boxes, tossed in long strands of linguine.
Get the Shrimp Scampi with Linguine recipe.
Rigatoni alla Norma
Eggplant doesn’t always get to be the main character but this vegetarian-friendly dish proves that it should. Rigatoni is tossed with a quick-cooking tomato sauce, roasted eggplant, and fresh mozzarella for a summer-ready meal.
Get the Rigatoni alla Norma recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
If you’re craving crispy chicken Parm but don’t want to deal with deep-frying, grab your air fryer. This miraculous countertop appliance delivers hands-off, restaurant-quality results.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Multicooker Risotto
Risotto is one of those classic Italian dishes that always feels luxurious, but the process of making it is anything but that. Instead of standing over the stove stirring nonstop, let the Instant Pot do all the work. It creates ultra-creamy rice in a fraction of the time.
Get the Multicooker Risotto recipe.
Chicken Marsala
Equal parts of chicken broth and marsala create the signature sauce for this chicken dish. Serve it with Crispy Roasted Potatoes and Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon.
Get the Chicken Marsala recipe.
Saucy Sausage Meatballs
These over-the-top beef and sausage meatballs would make Nonna proud. The key ingredients? Orange zest and cinnamon stick, which simmer in the sauce and make it extra warm and cozy.
Get the Saucy Sausage Meatballs recipe.
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